Refraction

My first greater story project was to write a sequel to the famous Star Trek episode “Mirror, Mirror”. Though it had been done before for example in Marvel’s “Fragile Glass” I had my own ideas that I wanted to present. I started to write the story in English but had to realise shortly thereafter that I could not express all my ideas in that language, so I continued to write in German. What you read here is partial translation of the fourth draft, a longer version is available in German.

Jan H. Kobarg

Prologue

Captain’s log, stardate 6141.8 Captain Kirk reporting; The Enterprise was assigned to monitor the weather condition of Galorndorn Core a planet near the Romulan neutral zone. While the Enterprise’s sensors can collect most of the data from orbit, several automated research stations on the surface must be recalibrated manually. Since the atmosphere prevents safe beaming to the surface we have to go down by shuttle. Mr Spock leads the team to the southern continent, while I will accompany the science team to the northern high plateau.

The shuttle fled through a cloud of magnetic storm, slowly it approached the dust covered surface. Shortly before the touchdown it was caught by the storm like a leave in the wind. Roughly ten metres above the soil the pilot activated the landing gear when the ferry was shaken once again. For a moment the landing process was stopped, but the pilot continued his way down to the ground. Carefully the shuttle came closer to it until the landing gear touched the rocky surface from which the engines of the shuttle blasted dust in the already darkened air.

The cabin of the tiny ship was crewed with officers and specialists of the Enterprise. In the pilot’s seat sat Mister Scott who did just shut down the engines, assisted by Sivertsen one of Scott’s technicians.

“Wasn’t that an exciting flight?” asked In’taph Uhura who was sitting in front of him. The blue skin of the Andorian was bright and full of joy, not only because he was assigned as scientific officer who would query the data from the research station.

“I attained more pleasant flights than this one, lieutenant,” replied Uhura and looked above her shoulder to the back where she could see Yeoman Owens whose face did either look weird because of the Andorian’s comment or due to the turbulent flight. “Are you alright, yeoman?”

“I just hope I mustn’t run a physical on anyone before we go into the storms,” said McCoy who could not resist listening to the conversation and turned around.

“Thank you, I’m fine,” replied Owens shyly who was uncomfortable to be reminded of her space illness in front of the captain.

“Wouldn’t you mind if we care about our business,” Kirk interrupted the smalltalk of his crew. “Bones, can be go outside?”

“Seems so,” replied the physician. “I have no medical objections, I’m ready to go if Scotty has secured the shuttle and the landing site is marked. While we’re talking about it, may I suggest we use the shuttle more often?”

Nobody replied and the crew exited the shuttle going on to search the science station. Because of the unpleasant weather all of them where wearing anoraks and thick pants, though it had little effect of protection against the storms of this planet.

“I’m reading a clear signal from the direction of those mountains,” screamed In’taph into the storm and moved on. Few metres later he instantly stopped and looked at his tricorder again.

“What is it, lieutenant?” Kirk asked for the reason of the stop.

“Nothing, for a moment I was receiving another signal, but it is gone again.”

The research station was not bigger than the captain’s chair, attached to it was a small reactor and the scientific instruments which were secured against the storms by a transparent container. In’taph, who lead the group moved to the terminal ready to query the latest data, while Scott and Sivertsen did start to inspect the station’s hull.

“I will check the exterior instruments,” shouted Kirk through the storm to the Andorian. “Continue your work here, but don’t take more time than needed.” Kirk was looking forward to the moment when he could leave the surface of this planet. In’taph nodded and turned to the terminal again to monitor the download.

“I will accompany you,” yelled McCoy instantly. “As far as I know is a seismic station within that cave, I don’t want to miss that!” Annoyed by the weather and happy to expect some time within a cave he hurried to Kirk and showed him the way.

Kirk and McCoy followed the cables which run between the sensor and the station until they reached a cliff which gave little protection. The two turned around trying to see the science station, but even though it was just a few hundred metres remote they could not make out its shape.

“Very unpleasant here,” said McCoy who was happy he could stop shouting. “I can’t believe the Federation traded this planet in the Algeron Treatment...”

“The Federation didn’t trade it,” answered Kirk and went deeper into the cave. “Earth’s Stellar Navy conquered this ‘strategically important’ planet after many battles during the war.”

McCoy looked at him with disgust and went on to follow him. “If I remember correctly the same can be said about Tomed, the only difference is that one could have founded a colony there...” he stopped in the mid of his sentence the cause stood right in front of him and had pointed ears. “I thought you were leading the other mission,” he started and looked puzzled at Kirk, who stood next to him as confused as McCoy.

“Spock, what are you doing here?” asked Kirk right on, still being confused.

“Kirk, McCoy, I need your help,” begun the Vulcan and approached them. “You must come with me into the other universe, return to help us.”

“One moment, you aren’t Spock,” responded Kirk who noticed the goat in the Vulcan’s face just now. “Well, you are, but not the real...” Kirk tried to express his confused thoughts. Still being surprised to see the Vulcan on this site of the universe, he starred at Spock: “But how, why?”

“You want to take us with you, to that place?” exclaimed McCoy who was dealing differently with that topic. He didn’t bother how the Vulcan arrived, the important thing for him was Spock’s assumption that they would join him on a trip to the barbaric universe.

Seeming to be under time pressure he ignored all their expressions. “I will brief you during the flight, we have little time now. Is Mister Scott here too? He is important for my plan. Come now.”

“What plan?” annoyed McCoy noticed that both Vulcan had one thing in common, once they had made up a well thought plan, nothing could stop either of them.

Thinking the same Kirk tried to and stepped between the exit and the Vulcan. “Spock, before we join you, you have to explain what you’re going to do.”

“Save the life of million of people,” he replied with known patience. “And if we want to be successful, we have to be at the transporter co-ordinates within the next 30 minutes.”

Captain’s log, supplemental. I was asked by the Spock of the parallel universe which we encountered two years ago by accident, to return to that dimension accompanied by Doctor McCoy, Commander Scott and Lieutenant Uhura. The Spock from that universe successfully developed a method to cross the boarders and is requesting help, to prevent an intergalactic war, for which I’m responsible.

When the group reached the central science station, the team was likewise confused as before Kirk and McCoy. Being still under time pressure Spock did not explain any of the questions. In great hurry the different equipment parts were collected and the group headed for the shuttle.

The landing party and mister Spock boarded the shuttle and took their seats. Spock was standing next to Scott who was sitting in the pilot’s chair again. “Fly to these co-ordinates,” said Spock and handed a tricorder in which the set of data was stored to the chief engineer.

After a quick glimpse at the data Scott realised what Spock had in mind. “You want to make use of the ferromagnetic storms of Galorndorn to initiate the transfer?” All Scott got as an answer was a questioning look from Sivertsen sitting next to him in the co-pilot’s seat. “Begin pre-launch procedures,” ordered Scott who didn’t like the look of Sivertsen.

“There is no time for them,” ended Spock Sivertsen’s efforts on the controls. “Start immediately. This planet creates ferromagnetic pockets that we need for a successful transfer. In order to beam all of us we need one large enough and the most suiting one will collapse in a few minutes.”

“Ok, omit pre-launch,” ordered Kirk, and the shuttle began to shake for a few seconds before it did lift up. “Lieutenant In’taph, after our departure you will fly back to the Enterprise and report to Commander Spock what has happened here.”

The lieutenant nodded approving, but not without asking a serious question. “How will you return to our dimension, sir?”

“I think we can configure the research station’s emitter to send out a distress signal once we have returned,” answered Scott who concentrated both on flying the shuttle and creating a return plan. “When the Enterprise receives the signal she only has to pick us up, that is granted we use Galorndorn for the trip back too.”

“Spock, maybe your Vulcan mind can answer a question I cannot solve,” interrupted McCoy the explanation of Scott. “How could you know we were on that planet?”

“I did only know because of you, doctor” replied Spock who caused even more confusion among the crew. “I sensed your presence on the planet when we passed the system. A quick scan revealed the planet’s characteristics and hoped that I can stop the invasion with your help.”

“Which Invasion, if I may ask?” asked Uhura whose voice sounded very puzzled from behind.

“I am sorry, lieutenant, we can discuss that after our transfer,” said Spock while taking some injection tubes out of a pocket. “Now you need to take these injections so we can be scanned on the other side.”

Spock gave three of the injections to McCoy and the last to Scott before he turned to the Andorian. “May I please have your seat? In the other shuttle is no more space and I don’t want to be beamed into the ceiling.”

Lieutenant In’taph nodded and rose from his seat on which Spock sat down just moments later. Scott who meanwhile had injected the preparatory was flipping some controls and the shuttle stopped moving.

“We’ve reached our destination,” reported Scott who turned around to the Vulcan because of the last sentence he heard. “The shuttle has a transporter? In that case…”

He could not finish his sentence because his molecular structure was turned into a blue glowing field of energy. Only the mission specialists stayed in the shuttle that now seemed to be very empty after the blue colour was gone.

In’taph who was still standing in the shuttle went over to the seat next to Sivertsen. “The captain wanted me to fly back to the Enterprise, correct?”

Without waiting for an answer the Andorian who had a big grin in the face now sat down and manipulated the controls.

to be continued...